Chaos hit college football again in Week 10, and the AP Top 25 is about to look a whole lot different because of it.
Eight ranked teams lost on Saturday, including No. 1, which opens the door for yet another shake-up at the top. That makes it five different No. 1 teams in the late-season stretch, with the pollsters now forced to sort through a fresh round of chaos after the first November slate.
Missouri and Florida are the teams dropping out this week, clearing the way for a new batch of movers and shakers across the board.
Georgia is set to reclaim the top spot after a brutal 42-7 dismantling of ranked Ole Miss, paired with the loss by the team sitting at No. 1.
That’s enough to push the reigning SEC champs back to No. 1.
Utah should also surge near the top after beating ranked BYU at home and taking control of the Big 12 race. Notre Dame, meanwhile, has a case for the top spot after knocking off the top-ranked Hurricanes, though the rest of its resume still trails what Utah and Georgia have put together.
Miami’s loss on the road in a close game to a ranked opponent is not expected to bury the Hurricanes. AP voters have been willing to be forgiving when a No. 1 team falls away from home in that kind of spot.
UCLA stays right in the mix after putting up 300 passing yards in an explosive win at Minnesota to remain unbeaten through nine games.
Alabama keeps its place among the elite two-loss teams after handling ranked LSU on the road. Texas also stays firmly in the conversation after a road win at ranked Missouri, with the Longhorns continuing to look like one of the 12 best teams in the country.
Indiana was idle, but the Hoosiers get a week to rest up before facing USC next, while the Trojans also had the weekend off and return at Indiana.
Texas Tech’s shootout win over West Virginia should help the Red Raiders climb, especially with several higher-ranked teams falling around them. They now sit more securely in second place in the Big 12.
Tennessee is headed for a strong rise after blowing past Kentucky 34-6. The Vols are 7-2 and have wins over two teams that were ranked in the top ten at the time, which gives them plenty of support from pollsters.
Wake Forest also gets a bump after crushing Merrimack 77-0 and sitting second in the ACC. Houston’s win over Cincinnati should help too, as the Cougars move to 7-2 with their only losses coming against Utah and Texas Tech.
Boise State put up 64 points on Colorado State despite not having its starting quarterback, and that kind of offensive explosion should keep the Broncos climbing. New Mexico, too, strengthened its grip on the Mountain West lead while also ranking No. 1 nationally in scoring defense.
Iowa’s road win at Northwestern should steady the Hawkeyes at 7-2, while Arizona’s narrow escape against TCU keeps the Wildcats in the poll, even if it took some late luck to get there.
South Carolina has quietly turned things around, going from 0-3 in SEC play to a four-game winning streak that includes wins over ranked Florida and Tennessee, plus a tight win over Texas A&M. Ole Miss, by contrast, is in line for one of the biggest drops after getting blown out at home by Georgia.
Ohio State’s second straight loss, this time at home to Oregon, puts Ryan Day’s team in a tough spot. The Buckeyes still have wins over Indiana and Iowa, but the playoff picture is looking bleak after the latest setback.
LSU’s slide continues after a 31-13 loss to Alabama, and the Tigers still don’t have a win over a CFP-ranked team. Kentucky’s four-touchdown loss at Tennessee will knock some shine off the Wildcats, though their wins over LSU and South Carolina still carry weight.
SMU should finally crack the rankings after sitting just outside the AP poll a week ago with 27 total votes. The Mustangs backed that up by rolling past Virginia Tech 51-28 and now have Wake Forest next.
Here’s how the projected AP Top 25 should shake out after Week 10:
- Georgia
- Utah
- Notre Dame
- UCLA
- Miami
- Alabama
- Indiana
- Texas
- Texas Tech
- BYU
- Wake Forest
- Tennessee
- Kentucky
- Oregon
- Houston
- USC
- Boise State
- Ohio State
- Iowa
- New Mexico
- Ole Miss
- South Carolina
- LSU
- Arizona
- SMU
In Other News...
Texas Tech Has A Huge Chance To Climb This Weekend
Texas Tech heads into its matchup with West Virginia with more than just a conference win on the line. The Red Raiders are sitting at No. 15 in the College Football Playoff rankings, and ESPN.coms Matchup Predictor gives them the edge, which only adds to the sense that this weekend could be a meaningful step forward if they handle business.
The bigger picture is what makes the game matter even more. Several ranked teams are also in action today, and the way those results shake out could help Texas Tech climb if the Red Raiders take care of their own part first. It is the kind of weekend that can reshape a rsum quickly, and Texas Tech has a real opportunity to benefit if things break the right way. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Has One Big Concern Entering West Virginia Game
No. 15 Texas Tech heads into its matchup with West Virginia with plenty to like on paper, especially on offense. Quarterback Thomas Castellanos and running back JKoby Williams give the Red Raiders the kind of playmaking duo that can stress a defense in a hurry, and the Mountaineers have not exactly been sturdy on that side of the ball this season.
The bigger concern may come from the other sideline, where West Virginia brings a more complicated challenge than its defensive ranking suggests. Michael Hawkins gives the Mountaineers a dual-threat element at quarterback, Cam Cook adds another layer in the run game, and Texas Tech is also sorting through injury updates and probable statuses as it gets closer to kickoff. [Read more 🡒]